Heat-resistant waterproof breathable material and breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe

ABSTRACT

Provided is a heat-resistant waterproof breathable material (5), comprising: a heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer (7); a surface protection layer (6) provided on one side of the heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer; and a breathable supporting layer (8) provided on the other side of the heat-resistant waterproof breathable layer. Also provided is a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe (10), wherein a part thereof is made from a heat-resistant waterproof breathable material (15).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material and a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe comprising such material.

BACKGROUND

Vulcanized rubber shoes are very commonly-used shoes, which are produced by bonding the sole, vamp, upper, and other parts of the shoes via glue-bonding, pressing and etc., and then conducting high-temperature vulcanization treatment.

Vulcanized rubber shoes used for fishing, field working, breeding industry and etc. are a type of vulcanized rubber shoe with good waterproof performance. Generally, the vamp and upper of such vulcanized rubber shoe are wrapped as a whole by one or more piece of rubber sheet, and thus the vulcanized rubber shoe can achieve a full waterproof performance after the vulcanization treatment. A layer of decorative fabric material can be used to cover over the surface of the vamp and upper of the shoe.

Such a vulcanized rubber shoe has the advantage of good waterproof performance, and can be worn by people in water for a long time without leaking water into the shoe, thus meeting the requirement on working in water or in wet circumstances.

However, such a vulcanized rubber shoe has a problem of bad breathability (or moisture-penetrability). Because the sole, vamp and upper of the shoe are formed as a whole after the vulcanization treatment, the heat and moisture can only be dissipated from the opening on the top of the upper. However, because such a vulcanized rubber shoe generally has a very tall upper, and the gap between the leg of people wearing the shoe and the upper is quite limited, the heat and moisture dissipation is quite limited.

If people wear such a vulcanized rubber shoe for a long time, the feet of people will be in a moist and hot condition for such a long time, because the perspiring and heat of the body will cause the temperature and the humidity rise inside the shoe. This significantly affects the wearing comfortability of people.

Therefore such a vulcanized rubber shoe that has a good breathability without compromising the waterproof performance is needed. However, since the vulcanized rubber shoe must be conducted with vulcanization treatment wherein the temperature of vulcanization treatment is generally not below 110 degrees centigrade, the commonly used waterproof breathable materials cannot bear such a high temperature. At present, there is still no vulcanized rubber shoes that can achieve good breathability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one object of the invention, it intends to solve the problem of the high temperature resistance of the waterproof breathable material. According to another object of the invention, it intends to solve the problem that the vulcanized rubber shoe doesn't have good breathability.

According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material comprising:

a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, a surface protective layer, which is provided on one side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer; and a breathable support layer, which is provided on the other side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is made of PTFE or PU.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is of a PTFE film or PU film.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the PTFE film or PU film has a thickness of about 25 μm.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the PTFE film or PU film has a mini-porous structure.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the breathable support layer is made of open-cell foaming breathable material, fabric, or the combination of open-cell foaming breathable material and fabric.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with a lining fabric layer.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with one or more auxiliary functional layers.

According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, characterized in that, one part of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe is made of heatproof, waterproof and breathable material, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material comprises:

a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, a surface protective layer, which is provided on one side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, and a breathable support layer, which is provided on the other side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is made of PTFE or PU.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is of a PTFE film or PU film.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the PTFE film or PU film has a thickness of about 25 μm.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the PTFE film or PU film has a mini-porous structure.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the breathable support layer is made of open-cell foaming breathable material, fabric, or the combination of open-cell foaming breathable material and fabric.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with a lining fabric layer.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with one or more auxiliary functional layers.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, part of the vamp of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the front part, middle part, and/or rear part of the vamp of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, part of the upper of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the part of the upper of the shoe, which is close to the ankle portion, is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.

According one preferable embodiment of the invention, the part of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, which is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material, is bonded to the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe before the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof, and forms tight coupling with other parts of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe through the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In a way of illustration without limitation, the accompanying drawings show the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a common waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Below the embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is only illustrative, without intention of limiting the protection scopes of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a common waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 1 according to the prior art is shown. The waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 1 generally may comprise a sole 2, a vamp 3 and an upper 4. In order to be waterproof, the sole 2 is made of rubber, and the vamp 3 and the upper 4 are connected by several rubber sheets covering them and form a whole rubber layer with the sole through vulcanization treatment, thus achieving good waterproof performance. A decorative surface layer may be provided on the vamp 3 and the upper 4 as needed.

As seen from FIG. 1, since such a waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe is made of rubber material as a whole, and generally has a very tall upper, it is hard for it to achieve good breathability while ensuring good waterproof performance.

In order to achieve good breathability, it is considered to replace the rubber on the vamp with waterproof material of good breathability. Of course, such breathable waterproof material may be provided on the whole vamp, part of the vamp, the whole upper, or part of the upper. Such breathable waterproof material may be provided on the vamp or upper exclusively, or may be provided on both the vamp and the upper at the same time.

It is noted that, the vamp and the upper are described as two separate parts only for convenience. Actually, in some waterproof vulcanized rubber shoes, the vamp and the upper may be integrated. For example, they may be formed by a whole rubber sheet. That is, the vamp and the upper do not need to have a physical boundary line between them.

As described above, a common breathable material may not have a waterproof function, while a common material with breathable and waterproof function generally does not have good heat resistance, and cannot bear the temperature of 110 degrees centigrade or even higher temperature during the vulcanization treatment. At present, there is no waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe that can achieve good breathability.

The inventors of the present invention have proposed a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material adapted to make a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, and applied such material to the common waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe so as to solve its problem of bad breathability.

Referring to FIG. 2, it shows a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 according to one embodiment of the invention, which can resist high temperature. According to the embodiments of FIG. 2, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 may comprise a surface protective layer 6, a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 and a breathable support layer 8.

The surface protective layer 6 may be a common fabric layer, similar to the surface fabric layer used on a common vulcanized rubber shoe, such as polyester cloth or similar material, which can well protect the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7, and may have the function of decoration at the same time. The surface protective layer 6 can easily bear the high temperature during the vulcanization treatment, as the surface fabric layer used on the common vulcanized rubber shoe. The surface protective layer 6 is not limited to the materials mentioned above. As long as the material have breathability and can well protect the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7, it can be used in the invention.

Generally the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 needs to be quite thin to ensure that it has good breathability while keeping its waterproof performance. The breathable support layer 8 is used to support the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7, so that the whole heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 has certain thickness and strength, and can be applied to various circumstances more easily, particularly to the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to the invention.

According to a preferable embodiment of the invention, the whole heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 with the breathable support layer 8 has such a thickness that is adapted to make the vamp and upper of shoe. That is, when the vamp and/or upper of the shoe are/is partially or entirely made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5, there is no apparent difference between the thickness of this part and that of other parts of the shoe. Of course, the breathable support layer 8 may be quite thin, and the thickness of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 may be adjusted by providing other auxiliary functional layer(s).

According to a preferable embodiment of the invention, the breathable support layer 8 may be made of Hi-poly. According to another embodiment of the invention, the breathable support layer 8 may be made of Sandwich AirMesh. According to other embodiments of the invention, the breathable support layer 8 may be made of any breathable material that can bear high temperature and is adapted for supporting. The breathable support layer 8 may be of a single layer of material, or of a combination of several layers of material. The breathable support layer 8 may be made of open-cell foaming breathable material, fabric, or the combination of open-cell foaming breathable material and fabric

According to an embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 may be made of PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). More particularly, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 may be a waterproof breathable film made of PTFE.

Such a waterproof breathable film is generally made of PTFE, and can be referred to as PTFE film. The exemplary manufacturing method is to heat fine powder of PTFE below its melting point (327° C.) and form a thin film, and then stretching the thin film rapidly. After cooling, a film with thermosetting arachnoid mini-porous structure is formed, which has a thickness of about 25 μm. In such a film with micro holes of one square meter, there are about 14,000 billion micro holes with an aperture of 0.2-2.5 μm. Such PTFE film has a water vapor transmission rate above 5000 g/(m²·24 h), and has a hydrostatic resistance above 9.8 kPa.

Such PTFE film has micro holes with an aperture of a fraction of micrometer to tens of micrometers. That is to say, the diameter of the micro holes of the PTFE film is thousands of or tens of thousands of times smaller than the dimeter of a water-drop, while is about 1000 times bigger than the diameter of a molecule of water vaper.

In the state of water vaper, a water particle is very small, and can smoothly permeate to the other side of a capillary tube based on capillary motion, thus occurring moisture permeability. This allows the waterproof breathable film have the effect of breathability, and particularly be able to get moisture permeate well. The particle becomes bigger when water vapor condensates into water-drop. Because of the action of the surface tension of the water-drop (namely the pulling counterbalance among the water molecules), the water molecules cannot smoothly escape from the water-drop and permeate to the other side of the film. That is, water permeability is prevented. This allows the waterproof breathable film have the waterproof function. Further, in view of the composition of the PTFE film, apparently it can bear the high temperature of 110-140 degrees centigrade during the vulcanization treatment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 is made of PU (polyurethane). More particularly, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 may be a waterproof breathable film made of PU. The PU film may have similar parameters including thickness to those of the PTFE film.

The manufacturing method mentioned above is just exemplary. For example, the PU film may be formed by depositing PU coating onto the breathable support layer 8.

The heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 according to the invention is not limited to the above material, and can be made by other materials with similar functions.

The heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 may be bonded to the surface protective layer 6 on one side, and bonded to the breathable support layer 8 on the other side. In this way, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 according to the invention is produced. In order to avoid comprising the breathability performance, these materials may be bonded by means such as spot gluing.

When the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 is applied to the occasion such as the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to the invention, a lining fabric layer may be further provided in the shoe to improve the wearing feeling, if necessary. Alternatively, when the breathable support layer 8 employed therein is adapted to contact with the feet and leg of people wearing the shoe, it is not necessary to provide further lining fabric layer for the shoe. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5 may provide one or more auxiliary functional layers, such as a surface decorative layer, a strength enhancing layer and the above lining fabric layer.

Referring to FIG. 3, it shows a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 5′ according to another embodiment of the invention, which further comprises a lining fabric layer 9 in addition to a surface protective layer 6, a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer 7 and a breathable support layer 8. The lining fabric layer 9 may be a common fabric layer, which is generally a lining layer adapted to contact with the feet and leg of the people wearing the shoe, and can also bear the high temperature during the vulcanization treatment.

Referring to FIG. 4, it shows a breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Similar to the common waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 1, the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 generally comprises a sole 12, a vamp 13 and an upper 14.

Similarly, in order to be waterproof, the sole 12 is made of rubber, and main part of the vamp 13 and upper 14 is also made of rubber. At the same time, in order to achieve breathability while being waterproof, part of the vamp 13 is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to the invention. The sole 12, vamp 13 and upper 14 form an integrated whole by the vulcanization treatment, thus achieving good waterproof performance while keeping good breathability. Similarly, a decorative surface layer may be provided on the vamp 13 and upper 14 according to actual need.

As mentioned above, the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 according to the invention comprises the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material of the invention. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material mainly includes a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, a breathable support layer and a surface protective layer. In some embodiments, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may further includes one or more auxiliary functional layers, such as a surface decorative layer, a strength enhancing layer and a lining fabric layer.

The heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer may be made of PTFE or PU, and more particularly may be made of a PTFE or PU film. As above, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is resistant to high temperature, and can bear the high temperature vulcanization treatment of the vulcanized rubber shoe. Of course, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer has good waterproof performance and breathability. Therefore, in addition to good waterproof performance, the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 according to the invention has good breathability at the same time.

The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 according to the invention significantly improves the breathability of the waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, which renders the people wearing the shoe to have good wearing experience, even if they work for a long time while wearing such breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoes.

According to FIG. 4, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 is provided at the front part of the vamp, such as the part close to the toes. The area of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 may be determined according the shape and/or application occasion of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10. For example, when the upper 14 of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 is relatively high, the area of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 may be added. Although the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 may protect the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer with the surface protective layer, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 is not as good as the rubber material in resistance to external force, durability and etc., because the surface protective layer and the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer are not as strong as rubber. Making the vamp and/or upper of the shoe entirely by the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 might shorten the service life of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10. For example, when the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 is applied in outdoor working occasions such as fishing, the possibility for damaging the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 by external force increases. At this time, the area of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material 15 may be relatively decreased in order to ensure a normal service life of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided at the middle part or the rear part of the vamp, such as the part close to the instep and the part close to the heel. According to other embodiments of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided on several parts of the vamp at the same time, for example, being provided on the front and middle parts at the same time, being provided on the front and rear parts at the same time, being provided on the middle and rear parts at the same time, or being provided on the front, middle and rear parts at the same time. When the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided on several parts of the vamp at the same time, the areas of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material on these parts may be different. Of course the embodiments with vamp of the shoe being entirely made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material are also in the consideration of the invention, although they might affect the service life of the shoe.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided on the upper of the shoe, such as at the lower part of the upper close to the ankle. Similarly, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided on several parts of the upper. Similarly, the embodiments with upper of the shoe being entirely made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material are also in the consideration of the invention, although they might affect the service life of the shoe.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material may be provided on one or more parts of the vamp and the upper of the shoe at the same time.

Because on the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 one or more parts of the vamp and/or upper of the shoe are provided with the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to the invention, it ensures that the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe 10 has good waterproof performance as well as good breathability.

According to an embodiment, the part of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, which is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material, is bonded to the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe before the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof, and forms tight coupling with other parts of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe through the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof, so as to ensure good waterproof performance.

As mentioned above, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to the invention has good heatproof performance, and can bear the high temperature during the vulcanization treatment of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe. Therefore, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to the invention can be easily applied to manufacture the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to the invention. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to the invention has a great improvement in the breathability.

The invention is not limited to the above detailed description, and all the variations that those skilled in the art may make based on the above description fall into the scoped of the invention. 

1. A heatproof, waterproof and breathable material comprising: a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, a surface protective layer, which is provided on one side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer; and a breathable support layer, which is provided on the other side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer.
 2. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 1, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is made of PTFE or PU.
 3. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 2, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is of a PTFE film or PU film.
 4. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 3, characterized in that, the PTFE film or PU film has a thickness of about 25 μm.
 5. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 3, characterized in that, the PTFE film or PU film has a mini-porous structure.
 6. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 1, characterized in that, the breathable support layer is made of open-cell foaming breathable material, fabric, or the combination of open-cell foaming breathable material and fabric.
 7. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 6, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with a lining fabric layer.
 8. The heatproof, waterproof and breathable material according to claim 1, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with one or more auxiliary functional layers.
 9. A breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, characterized in that, one part of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe is made of a heatproof, waterproof and breathable material, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material comprises: a heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, a surface protective layer, which is provided on one side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer, and a breathable support layer, which is provided on the other side of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer.
 10. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is made of PTFE or PU.
 11. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable layer is of a PTFE film or PU film.
 12. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 11, characterized in that, the PTFE film or PU film has a thickness of about 25 μm.
 13. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 11, characterized in that, the PTFE film or PU film has a mini-porous structure.
 14. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, the breathable support layer is made of open-cell foaming breathable material, fabric, or the combination of open-cell foaming breathable material and fabric.
 15. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 14, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with a lining fabric layer.
 16. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material is further provided with one or more auxiliary functional layers.
 17. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, part of the vamp of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.
 18. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 17, characterized in that, the front part, middle part, and/or rear part of the vamp of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.
 19. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, part of the upper of the shoe is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that, the part of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe, which is made of the heatproof, waterproof and breathable material, is bonded to the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe before the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof, and forms tight coupling with other parts of the breathable waterproof vulcanized rubber shoe through the high-temperature vulcanization treatment thereof. 